BARBARIC Russian and Chinese officials have vetoed a draft UN resolution which would bring a week-long ceasefire to the besieged city of Aleppo.

Russia and China have both vetoed a deal which would ensure a seven day ceasefire in the city

The Syrian city has been under constant bombardment from Russian and Syria government forces, who have been attacking the city under the guise of ridding the city of ISIS, terrorist groups and insurgent forces.

Vladimir Putin’s forces claim the UN Security Council document infringes the council rule which allows nations at least a day to consider the final wording.

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The city of Aleepo has been under relentless bombardment since the conflict started

Russian diplomat, Vitaly Churkin, said: “US Secretary of State, Mr Kerry is working with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Mr Lavrov to reach a tangible outcome. But when they are close to an agreement, someone topples it.

“Russia is trying to achieve a solution including by the Security Council which would have a chance for success.

“The initiative which Lavrov and Kerry discussed two days ago has a chance to succeed because it would lead to an effective end to the Aleppo tragedy, which has lasted for several years.”

Russia and China have chosen to veto not because of a lack of consultation, but because of their long-standing, misplaced faith in a despot who has killed nearly half a million of his own people

UK ambassador Matthew Rycroft

Yet White House officials have attacked the flimsy defence, claiming that it was a “made-up alibi” to preserve military gains made by Bashar al-Assad’s genocidal troops.

US deputy ambassador, Michele Sison, said: “We will not let Russia string along this Security Council while waiting for a compromise from the Russians that never seems to come.”

UK ambassador, Matthew Rycroft, claimed "Russia and China have chosen to veto not because of a lack of consultation, but because of their long-standing, misplaced faith in a despot who has killed nearly half a million of his own people”.

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The UN draft failed to get pushed through

The Syrian army, controlled by Assad who has reportedly used chemical weapons on innocent civilians trapped in Aleppo, have seized more parts of the rebel-held eastern part of the city.

If true, government forces would have recaptured around 70 per cent of the rebel-controlled areas in just over a week.

At least 50,000 civilians have fled the rebel-held part of the city in the past week, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, while non-profit group IAmSyria claim the death toll since the conflict started tops more than 450,000.

Vladimir Putin in pictures

Russin President Vladimir Putin in pictures

Russia and China – both veto-wielding members of the UN – voted against the proposal submitted by Egypt, New Zealand and Spain.

Socialist-ruled Venezuela – a country which has strong relations with Russia dating back to the Soviet era – also voted against the draft while Angola, another nation has historic ties with Russia, chose to abstain.